Hi guys,
I baught and downloaded the new Zinman M6 at about 12:10 AM this morning (I rearranged my sleep schedule so I'd be awake enough to listen to it) from Amazon.com's MP3 store. And, although I have not listened to each movement completely, I am impressed by what I've heard so far.
In many instances in all of the movements, I have noticed little details of the music that I have not noticed before under other conductors. For example: the string playing is more defined and noticeable, as is the percussion. And, by the way, the first movement does contain an exposition repeat--something that was apparently omitted in Mr. Zinman's earlier Baltimore recording.
The Andante is a bit more heart-felt than some others I have heard, but not as sentimental as Lenny--no surprise there. Again, the orchestral balance is better than most other recordings I have heard.
The Scherzo is on the slower end of the scale, but from the onset--with the timps pounding away--one perfectly gets the feeling of a movement straight from a nightmare. The starting tempo is somewhat like Barbirolli, if that gives any indication.
The Finale is just as good as the rest of the piece. I read something about Mr. Zinman's Baltimore M6 having "Extended" hammer blows. Well, I don't know if "extended" is the word I would use to describe the two hammer strokes in this recording, but the sound certainly does linger a bit, especially after the first blow. My only real complaint with the Finale is the way Mr. Zinman conducts the final closing chord--the fate motif on Timpani at the end of the Finale is just about as fast as it is played in the context of the first movement. Overall, it's a great performance, and I have a feeling that Mr. Zinman knew what he was doing ending the Finale the way he did--perhaps for contrast?
The bottom line...this is a Mahler 6 that will take its place with Bernstein, Zander, and Barbirolli as a rather different interpretation--one that I most definitely will listen to again.
